VincenzoMontella warned Fiorentina are “at a crossroads” and must reinforce if they want to improve upon fourth place.

The Viola have already qualified for the Europa League, lost the Coppa Italia Final to Napoli and visit local rivals Livorno in the Derby dellaToscana on Sunday. It kicks off at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.

“We had plans for the future and perhaps were too good at achieving our objectives quickly,” said the Coach in his Press conference.

“Now we are at a crossroads. I like to underline that for the club and for the discussions that go on around us.

“I have not been analysing a specific defeat, but rather to outline the logic of how I see the team on a daily basis.

“I think this squad did wonderfully well and I cannot ask more from these lads. Now it is my duty and my right to say that in order to improve we need top players as well as confirming those who are already here.

“I wasn’t trying to stir up controversy. There is nothing to clarify with the club and they are not surprised by my words.

“This team has reached its maximum capacity. If we want to grow further, then we need more. To repeat certain results with the same team and the same Coach is not easy.”

Livorno are bottom of the table and Fiorentina are fresh from a 4-3 home defeat to Sassuolo, so the Viola are having a decisive role in the relegation battle.

“We are still playing for an objective, as tomorrow we’d like to lock down fourth place. We need concentration and aggression, then the technical aspects come afterwards.

“Against Sassuolo we lost because we were too enthusiastic and eager to win that we left ourselves exposed at the back.”

Norberto Neto is rested again with a fractured finger, while Montella warned Giuseppe Rossi “is not ready to start.

“Mario Gomez is not going to the World Cup, but that will allow him to rest and be even more fired up next season.”